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Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera was dialed in as he recorded his second career three-home run game Sunday night against the Rangers.

Cabrera unleashed a three-run home run in the third, a solo shot in the fifth and another solo home run in the eighth inning. He became the 23rd player in major-league history to finish 4 for 4 with three home runs, five RBI and four runs scored. However, he became the first player to do it in a losing cause as the Tigers fell to the Rangers 11-8.

Cabrera hit .304 with eight homers and 34 RBI through 42 games during his triple crown season in 2012. He is hitting .387 with 11 home runs and 47 RBI through 42 games this season.

Rangers closer Joe Nathan notched his 13th save of the season Sunday night against the Tigers.

Nathan, who entered the game in the ninth inning with a three-run lead, worked his way around a leadoff walk as he retired the next three batters to secure an 11-8 victory. He struck out one and improved his ERA to 2.12 after converting his 13th save in as many chances.

Tigers first baseman Prince Fielder is hoping to snap out of a recent funk. Fielder drove in a run Saturday for the first time in more than a week and finished 2 for 4 with a walk and three RBI Sunday against the Rangers.

"It's definitely not going to hurt," Fielder said. "That's what I'm trying to do, just trying to hit the ball hard. That's the goal, to hit the ball hard and see what happens."

Fielder is hitting .209 (9 for 43) with five RBI in his last 12 games. He is hitting .242 with two homers and 10 RBI in 17 May games.

Rangers manager Ron Washington placed outfielder David Murphy in the No. 2 spot in the batting order for the second consecutive night Sunday. Murphy responded with his fifth home run of the season against the Tigers.

Murphy launched a three-run home run in the fifth inning that gave the Rangers a one-run lead. He finished 2 for 3 with two runs scored and four RBI in an 11-8 victory.

"I'm going to try to keep [Murphy] there so he doesn't have to wait around to get at-bats and he can be involved in the game right away," Washington told MLB.com before the game. "Maybe that'll start getting him going."

Murphy, who did not hit second at all last season, is hitting .215 with five homers and 16 RBI.

With Austin Jackson hurt and Andy Dirks out of the lineup, Tigers second baseman Omar Infante took over the leadoff spot Sunday against the Rangers.

"When you lead him off, you're leading him off because he's your only guy in that situation," manager Jim Leyland told MLB.com. "Normally I wouldn't have him leading off but, with the situation we're in, if you look at the lineup, who else would you lead off? ... The only other guy you'd think about is [Avisail] Garcia and I don't want to do that."

Infante finished 2 for 5 with two runs scored in an 11-8 defeat. He is hitting .313 with three home runs and 14 RBI in 144 at-bats.

Rangers starter Derek Holland endured a rough outing but did not factor in the decision of Sunday's 11-8 victory over the Tigers.

Holland, who made his ninth start of the season, surrendered a three-run home run to Miguel Cabrera in the third and a solo home run to Cabrera again in the fifth for his only damage of the night. The left-hander was charged with four runs and eight hits over 4 2/3 innings of work. He struck out six and walked three.

Holland has allowed four runs or more three of his last five starts. He is scheduled to make his next start Saturday at Seattle. He has not allowed a run in his last 16 2/3 innings pitched at Safeco Field.

Tigers starting pitcher Doug Fister, who allowed two runs and struck out seven his last time out, was hit hard but did not factor in the decision of Sunday's 11-8 loss to the Rangers.

Fister, who made his ninth start of the season, surrendered a sacrifice fly in the second and four runs in the fourth, including a two-run double to Adrian Beltre. The right-hander was charged with five runs and nine hits over 4 2/3 innings of work. He struck out three and walked one.

Fister has allowed 10 runs -- nine earned -- over his last 7 2/3 innings of work away from home. He is scheduled to make his next start Saturday at home against the Twins. He went 2-2 with a 3.00 ERA in four starts against Minnesota last season.

Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia enjoyed a big day at the plate as he unleashed his second home run of the season Sunday afternoon against the Twins.

Pedroia launched a two-run home run in the ninth inning to pad the lead for the Red Sox. He also drove in a run on a fielder's choice and finished 2 for 5 with two runs scored and three RBI in a 5-1 victory.

Pedroia has reached base safely in his last 14 games. He is hitting .446 (25 for 56) with two homers and nine RBI over that span. He has a .343/.432/.442 slash line 172 at-bats.

Padres outfielder Will Venable went deep for the sixth time this season during Sunday's series finale against the Nationals.

Venable uncorked a solo home run in the fifth off starter Dan Haren and doubled in a run in the seventh. He finished 2 for 5 with a run scored and two RBI in a 13-4 victory.

Venable is hitting .217 (5 for 23) with two doubles, a home run and three RBI in his last five games played. He has a .237/.308/.441 in 118 at-bats.

Padres shortstop Everth Cabrera enjoyed another productive performance as he stole a base in his fifth consecutive game Sunday afternoon against the Nationals.

Cabrera singled in the first and the seventh. He stole two bases and finished 2 for 6 with two runs scored and two RBI in a 13-4 victory. He leads the majors with 17 stolen bags.

Cabrera has a .257/.342/.351 slash line with two homers and 15 RBI in 171 at-bats.